Franklin Appointed to Equitarian Initiative Board

Rob Franklin, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, of Weatherford, Texas, has been named to the board of directors of the Equitarian Initiative. The group was started by American Association of Equine Practitioners equine veterinarians and caregivers looking to provide education, leadership, and assistance to working equids and by extension their owner-families.

“Dr. Franklin has worked internationally and is a well known internal medicine clinician with great talent as both a veterinary caregiver and a collaborator,” said initiative co-founders Julie Wilson, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, treasurer, and James Merriam, DVM, MS, president, in announcing his appointment. “He brings a wealth of knowledge about clinical nutrition and is working on developing locally sourced supplements to be made available at no cost to these needy animals.”

Franklin, who has traveled to Mexico to assist in the efforts, says the appointment is one of the most rewarding of his career.

“After traveling to Mexico and seeing the needs of families who depend on horses and donkeys for their livelihood, I was compelled to see this movement grow,” said Franklin.

It is estimated that there are 100 million working equids in the developing world. A working equid is defined as a horse, mule or donkey that is used primarily for family income, agriculture, and/or transportation.

The Initiative first began with a treatment workshop in Veracruz, Mexico, in October 2010, and is one that continues to be an annual event. The event has since grown to serve needs in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Nicaragua, Peru, Costa Rica, Honduras, Morocco, on American Indian reservations, and in Mexico.

Franklin received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University in 1999 and completed his Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Florida. He is currently president of the Texas Equine Veterinary Association and cofounder of FullBucket Animal Health, a supplement company that makes donations to animals in underdeveloped countries for each product purchased in the United States.

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